BuzzFeed Sponsored Content Chief Leaves Company

Cooper is departing less than two years after taking over Buzzfeed’s creative services team. He was previously at PepsiCo Inc. and AOL, and worked closely with marketing executives and ad agencies to create sponsored content.

Last week, NBCUniversal made a $200 million investment in BuzzFeed. Recode reported the investment last month, saying it valued the digital publisher at $1.7 billion. NBCUniversal infused $200 million into BuzzFeed last year, valuing the company at $1.5 billion — indicating roughly the same valuation after factoring the new money.

Cooper reported to ad Sales boss Greg Coleman, according to the WSJ.

BuzzFeed reorganized itself into two separate departments earlier this year: an editorial side, led by BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith, and an entertainment division, overseen by Ze Frank, the president of BuzzFeed Motion Pictures.